The warships stopped fifty meters from the shore.
Sakazuki stared coldly ahead.
White Ghost and the others were sitting there, waiting for them.
"Adjust the cannons!"
Sakazuki gave the order in an icy voice.
The cannons on all three warships began adjusting, all aiming toward White Ghost on land.
"Fire!"
Boom, boom, boom!
Thick smoke poured from the cannon muzzles as black cannonballs shot out one after another.
Whoosh!
White Ghost drew his Tang Hengdao.
"Same old routine. Fire cannons first when we meet. Don't these shells cost money?"
Kuro looked at the incoming cannonballs.
"Rules of the sea, I suppose. Open with cannon fire."
"Heh."
White Ghost swung the Tang blade in his hand.
A thousand-meter green sword aura flew into the sky and sliced through the incoming cannonballs.
Boom, boom, boom!
The shells exploded continuously in midair, thick smoke rolling outward.
Seeing that thousand-meter sword aura, the spectators swallowed hard.
"So this is the strength of someone who fought the World's Greatest Swordsman to a draw?"
Only ordinary people were surprised.
Anyone with a bit of strength could deal with cannonballs in one move.
Mihawk watched the broadcast.
More accurately, he looked at the blade in White Ghost's hand.
"Is that guy trying to forge a second black blade?"
"Ara ara."
Kuzan scratched the back of his head as he watched the sword aura flying through the air.
"Great swordsmen really are troublesome."
"Hehehe."
Franky stretched out his left hand. Blue energy gathered in his palm.
"Since you gave us a present, this uncle will send one back!"
Borsalino narrowed his eyes.
"How scary… Something dangerous is coming."
"Take this! Franky Laser!"
Whoosh!
A blue beam shot out, heading straight for Kizaru's warship. Whether Franky did it on purpose or not, no one knew.
"I told you something scary was coming. A laser beam? How frightening."
As Kizaru spoke, he raised a finger, yellow energy gathering at its tip.
Whoosh!
A yellow laser shot from Borsalino's finger and collided with the incoming blue laser.
Boom!
The two beams exploded against each other, blasting a huge pit into the sea as waves churned wildly.
"No effect, huh?"
Franky withdrew his hand and looked at the sleazy-looking man on the warship.
Kizaru rubbed his chin and looked back at Franky, who looked almost like a robot.
"Cyborg Franky, was it?
"Should I capture him and bring him back for research? Maybe the doctor will get some inspiration."
Tokikake spoke faintly from the side.
"Last time, you kicked White Ghost. I doubt he forgot that. You might have a rough time later."
Borsalino's sleazy face twitched.
That man was not easy to deal with.
And since he dared to wait here, he could not possibly be without some method.
Kizaru wondered if he should slack off later.
If White Ghost chased him down and beat him, that would be very uncomfortable.
Gurgle, gurgle.
On the central warship, magma flowed over Sakazuki's hands.
"Hey, hey, you're opening with something this big?"
Kuzan's mouth twitched.
Sakazuki said nothing. He raised both hands to the sky, his voice cold.
"Ryusei Kazan."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Magma shot from his fists into the sky.
Those who recognized Akainu's move smiled, ready to watch the show.
After all, this was a wide-area attack. Even if it did not kill them, it would still be dangerous.
White Ghost looked at the clouds burning red with magma and sighed.
"Logias really are troublesome. Their destructive power is ridiculous."
As he spoke, Haki coated the Tang blade in his hand with a sharp clang. He aimed it toward the sky.
"Simply cutting them apart is easy. The troublesome part is the magma."
Lightning flickered along the blade.
"One-Sword Style: Wind Slash."
Swish.
Another thousand-meter sword aura flew into the sky, but this one was different from the last.
Boom, boom.
The magma fists were sliced apart, and the sword aura carried the wind with it.
White Ghost smiled.
"Returning these to you."
Boom!
The magma fists that should have fallen toward White Ghost's side flew back the way they came.
"The magma is flying back!"
The soldiers on the ships looked at the sky in horror.
"Hey, hey, is this something a great swordsman can do?"
Kuzan aimed both hands at the sky.
"Absolute Zero."
Whoosh.
A wave of cold air shot from Kuzan's hands.
Crack, crack, crack.
The returning magma fists froze into ice midair and fell into the sea.
"We're saved! It was Admiral Kuzan!"
The Marines on the ships looked as if they had just survived a disaster.
But before they could catch their breath—
Swish.
A thousand-meter sword aura swept horizontally toward them.
"Arrogant!"
Sakazuki leapt up, coated his fist with Haki, and punched the sword aura head-on.
Boom!
Akainu shattered the sword aura and roared,
"All forces, advance! Leave no one alive!"
"Roar!"
The warships reached the shore, and the Marines surged toward White Ghost's group.
The three Admirals ran at the front, their eyes locked on the man who had changed blades.
Then we'll follow the plan.
Issho slowly stepped forward, walking toward Kuzan.
"Hm? Who is that?"
The three Admirals frowned at the purple-robed man who had stepped out.
"This one has only just joined Mr. White's ship. It would be improper not to contribute."
As Issho spoke, he slowly drew the blade from his cane.
A formless gravity spread outward.
Issho lowered his stance and gripped the cane sword tightly.
"Gravity Blade: Tiger!"
"Ara ara!"
Kuzan's body quickly turned elemental.
Crack, crack.
The sound of ice breaking echoed.
Boom!
The Marines following behind him suffered terribly. The weaker ones were directly blasted away by gravity.
Sakazuki and Borsalino were about to attack the large man when White Ghost's ferocious face appeared in front of them.
"You don't have time to meddle in other people's fights. Gale: Daybreak!"
"How scary."
Kizaru drew his Ama no Murakumo sword.
"Great Eruption."
Sakazuki threw a punch without hesitation.
Boom!
The three collided, forming three rings of energy—green, yellow, and red.
Boom, boom!
They continued increasing their strength. The three energy rings pushed back and forth, refusing to give way.
"You're fighting two at once. Still so scary, White Ghost," Kizaru said lightly with that punchable expression.
"Arrogant!"
Sakazuki gritted his teeth and increased his power.
White Ghost's mouth curved.
"The three Admirals are all being held down. Guess how long the men you brought can last?"
The two Admirals' hearts sank.
That man could hold Kuzan back?
Crack, crack.
Ice slowly gathered back together.
Kuzan looked at the purple-robed man with a serious expression.
"Ara ara. Where did White Ghost find someone like you?"
Issho held his blade and faced him.
"This one willingly boarded his ship because I want to see whether the things Mr. White spoke of can truly be realized. So, Your Excellency, please do not run around."
"That won't do."
Kuzan exhaled cold air, and balls of icy energy appeared in his palms. He threw them toward Issho.
"Haki is the foundation after all, is it?"
Issho coated his cane sword with Haki and swung at the incoming ice energy.
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